US4143810A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Documents coded by means of machine-readable optical markings
Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies AG
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Filing: 1976-11-16
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Granted: 1979-03-13
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Expires: 1996-11-16
Abstract
Abstract There is described a method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light; the geometrical position of the markings on the information carrier represents coded information. In the method disclosed, such an optical marking is introduced into each storage position, and subsequently, selected optical markings are cancelled or altered. Also described are documents coded by means of the disclosed method, as well as a device for cancelling or altering the optical markings.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Greenaway
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:00
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/126; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/16; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/3433; G07F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A coding device for cancelling or altering selected optical markings, for use in producing a machine-readable coded document having an information carrier with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising: introducing means for introducing numerical or alpha-numerical information to be coded on the information carrier; converting means for converting the numerical or alpha-numerical information into binary symbols; and cancellation means for cancelling or altering selected said optical markings in accordance with said binary symbols, to code the information onto the information carrier, said cancellation means comprising a multiplicity of heating elements which are electrically connected to the converting means, and which are arranged in the same geometrical position as the storage positions of the documents to be coded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A coding device for cancelling or altering selected optical markings, for use in producing a machine-readable coded document having an information carrier with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising: introducing means for introducing numerical or alpha-numerical information to be coded on the information carrier; converting means for converting the numerical or alpha-numerical information into binary symbols; and cancellation means for cancelling or altering selected said optical markings in accordance with said binary symbols, to code the information onto the information carrier, said cancellation means comprising a multiplicity of heating elements which are electrically connected to the converting means, and which are arranged in the same geometrical position as the storage positions of the documents to be coded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A coding device according to claim 1 wherein each heating element comprises a carrier of electrical insulating material, a thin layer of electrical resistance material applied to said carrier, and a thin insulating layer applied to said layer of electrical resistance material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier of thermoplastic material with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light, and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising embossing an optical marking into each storage position, and, subsequently, cancelling or altering selected said optical markings, said selected markings having been selected in such a way that an alteration of the stored information by cancelling or altering further optical markings can be ascertained.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier of thermoplastic material with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light, and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising embossing an optical marking into each storage position, and, subsequently, cancelling or altering selected said optical markings, said selected markings having been selected in such a way that an alteration of the stored information by cancelling or altering further optical markings can be ascertained.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said optical markings cause a characteristic diffraction or refraction of incident light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the selected said optical markings are thermally cancelled or altered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 5, further comprising covering the information carrier, before cancellation or alteration of the selected optical markings, with a cover layer which is opaque to visible light and which has a higher melting point than the information carrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the selected said optical markings are thermally cancelled or altered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising covering the information carrier, before cancellation or alteration of the selected optical markings, with a cover layer which is opaque to visible light and which has a higher melting point than the information carrier.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier of thermoplastic material with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light, and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising embossing an optical marking into each storage position, and, subsequently, thermally cancelling or altering selected said optical markings.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier of thermoplastic material with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a predetermined modification of incident light, and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising embossing an optical marking into each storage position, and, subsequently, thermally cancelling or altering selected said optical markings.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier of thermoplastic material with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a characteristic diffraction or refraction of incident light, and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising embossing an optical marking into each storage position, and, subsequently, cancelling or altering selected said optical markings.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of producing a document coded with machine-readable information, said document having an information carrier of thermoplastic material with a multiplicity of storage positions, wherein selected storage positions are occupied by respective machine-readable optical markings, which markings cause a characteristic diffraction or refraction of incident light, and whose geometrical position on the information carrier represents coded information, comprising embossing an optical marking into each storage position, and, subsequently, cancelling or altering selected said optical markings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-12 | 1982-09-11 | 1983-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-12 | 1986-09-11 | 1987-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-12 | 1990-09-11 | 1991-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |